Mark Francois MP: written questions
143 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Ministry of Defence: Written QuestionsMinistry of DefenceTabled 15 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 77018More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he plans to respond to Questions 75477, 75478, 75479 on National Armaments Director Group: Costs.
Answer: I responded to the right hon. Member on 24 September 2025.
Answered 13 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordDefence: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 15 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 77017More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department has introduced procurement control measures for spending levels that require clearance by the Secretary of State.
Answer: In year controls are used across the Department to manage its performance against the Defence budget as part of good financial management. The Secretary of State for Defence continues to have oversight of this process.
Answered 13 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordDefence: FinanceMinistry of DefenceTabled 15 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 77016More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Defence Investment Plan will consist of a single document.
Answer: The Defence Investment Plan will be a single document that sets out how the Ministry of Defence will deliver the vision of the Strategic Defence Review over the next 10 years.
Answered 13 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordAndy StartMinistry of DefenceTabled 15 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 77015More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether Andy Start will remain the Acting National Armaments Director for the whole length of his contract.
Answer: Andy Start was appointed acting National Armaments Director (NAD) as part of the establishment of the wider NAD Group in March 2025. Recruitment of a permanent NAD is ongoing and an appointment will be made in due course.
Answered 13 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordChagos Islands: SovereigntyForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 11 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 76561More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department received legal advice on the imminence of legal rulings under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Chagos Islands.
Answer: The Government's position in relation to the UK-Mauritius treaty has been informed by legal advice throughout. The Government's legal position was set out on 22 May when the treaty was signed, and can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-s...
Answered 22 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordLE TacCIS Programme: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 5 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 75483More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential impact the pause in Project MORPHEUS on warfighter effectiveness; and what interim measures are in place to extend the service life of the BOWMAN system.
Answer: It will take time to collate and review the information required to answer the hon. Member’s question. I will write to him shortly and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.
Answered 11 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordLE TacCIS Programme: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 5 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 75482More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the total costs incurred on Project MORPHEUS up to the decision to pause its original plans including a breakdown of expenditure on (a) development, (b) industry partnerships, (c) ext
Answer: It will take time to collate and review the information required to answer the hon. Member’s question. I will write to him shortly and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.
Answered 11 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordLE TacCIS Programme: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 5 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 75481More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the factors which contributed to the delivery confidence assessment rating for the LETacCIS programme decreasing from amber to red between financial year 2023-24-Q4 and 2024-25-Q4;
Answer: It will take time to collate and review the information required to answer the hon. Member’s question. I will write to him shortly and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.
Answered 11 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordNational Armaments Director Group: CostsMinistry of DefenceTabled 5 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 75479More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the costs of the design phase of the National Armaments Director Group; and when that phase is will conclude.
Answer: This Government is delivering the deepest defence reforms in over 50 years. On 31 March 2025 the National Armaments Director (NAD) Group was stood up – creating a new export to end acquisition system design to cut waste and fix the broken procurement syst...
Answered 24 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordNational Armaments Director Group: CostsMinistry of DefenceTabled 5 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 75478More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department has incurred additional costs as a result of operating the National Armaments Director (NAD) Group under an acting director rather than a permanent one.
Answer: This Government is delivering the deepest defence reforms in over 50 years. On 31 March 2025 the National Armaments Director (NAD) Group was stood up – creating a new export to end acquisition system design to cut waste and fix the broken procurement syst...
Answered 24 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordNational Armaments Director Group: CostsMinistry of DefenceTabled 5 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 75477More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the total cost to the public purse of establishing the National Armaments Director Group since March 2025; and what the breakdown of those costs are.
Answer: This Government is delivering the deepest defence reforms in over 50 years. On 31 March 2025 the National Armaments Director (NAD) Group was stood up – creating a new export to end acquisition system design to cut waste and fix the broken procurement syst...
Answered 24 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordAjax Vehicles: JournalismMinistry of DefenceTabled 4 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 75066More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 1 September 2025 to Question 62175, when his Department plans to hold the next Ajax-specific event at Bovington to which journalists will be invited.
Answer: There are currently no Ajax specific events due to be held at Bovington to which journalists will be invited.
Answered 10 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordNational Armaments Director: RecruitmentCabinet OfficeTabled 4 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 75064More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the contract awarded by his Department to Korn Ferry for the recruitment of the National Armaments Director has been fulfilled.
Answer: I refer to my answer given on 9 July HC66214. Korn Ferry continue to support the appointment process for the National Armaments Director role.
Answered 15 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordNational Armaments Director: RecruitmentCabinet OfficeTabled 4 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 75061More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the value was of the contract awarded by his Department to Korn Ferry for the recruitment of the National Armaments Director.
Answer: The competition was supported by Kornferry: details of the contract award and value are available here: https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/be88f513-c01a-4620-89f9-1cb2cc686895 and here Executive & Non-Executive Recruitment Se...
Answered 17 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordNorthern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023Northern Ireland OfficeTabled 3 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 74826More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to the Answer of 3 September 2025 to Question 70331 on Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023, if he will set out his planned timetable for (a) responding to the Joint Co
Answer: The Government is committed to introducing primary legislation when parliamentary time allows, including to reform and strengthen the independent Commission to ensure it is fully human rights compliant. As I stated at the Northern Ireland Affairs Committe...
Answered 9 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordTerrorism: Northern IrelandNorthern Ireland OfficeTabled 3 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 74825More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to the Answer of 3 September 2025 to Question 70329 on Terrorism: Northern Ireland, what information his Department holds on the jurisdiction in which the trial (a) is taking place for the perso
Answer: In reference to my previous Written Answer, the Northern Ireland Office is aware of at least one individual who has received a so-called 'on-the-run letter’ and is currently awaiting trial in Northern Ireland. We are also aware, through publicly available...
Answered 9 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordType 31 Frigates: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 2 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 74414More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the red delivery confidence rating for the Type 31 frigate programme on the (a) overall user requirements and (b) operational readiness of the Royal Navy.
Answer: The Type 31 (T31) frigate programme will deliver a maritime security capability at a value for money price, in a timescale that compares favourably with other international warship procurement programmes. In common with other enterprises, the T31 programm...
Answered 8 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordType 31 Frigates: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 2 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 74413More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what risks he has identified in the complex integration challenges for the Type 31 frigate programme; and what (a) technical and (b) contractual steps he is taking to help mitigate those risks.
Answer: The Type 31 (T31) frigate programme will deliver a maritime security capability at a value for money price, in a timescale that compares favourably with other international warship procurement programmes. In common with other enterprises, the T31 programm...
Answered 8 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordType 31 Frigates: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 2 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 74412More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to meet the first-of-class schedule for the Type 31 frigate.
Answer: The Type 31 (T31) frigate programme will deliver a maritime security capability at a value for money price, in a timescale that compares favourably with other international warship procurement programmes. In common with other enterprises, the T31 programm...
Answered 8 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordType 31 Frigates: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 2 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 74411More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate his Department has made of the additional costs arising from inflation on the Type 31 frigate programme.
Answer: The Type 31 (T31) frigate programme will deliver a maritime security capability at a value for money price, in a timescale that compares favourably with other international warship procurement programmes. In common with other enterprises, the T31 programm...
Answered 8 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordUnmanned Air Systems: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 2 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 74410More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what measures are outlined in the pending Review Note to transition the Protector programme from red to green delivery confidence rating; and what (a) timelines and (b) oversight mechanisms are in place to ensure
Answer: A Protector Review Note will be produced after the results of the Defence Investment Plan, due to be published later this year, have been analysed. It is therefore not possible to provide a timetable for the Review Note approval at this time however, once...
Answered 9 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordUnmanned Air Systems: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 2 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 74407More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what reason the Protector programme has a red delivery confidence rating.
Answer: A Protector Review Note will be produced after the results of the Defence Investment Plan, due to be published later this year, have been analysed. It is therefore not possible to provide a timetable for the Review Note approval at this time however, once...
Answered 9 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordUnmanned Air Systems: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 2 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 74406More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his planned timetable is for approval of the Review Note for the Protector programme.
Answer: A Protector Review Note will be produced after the results of the Defence Investment Plan, due to be published later this year, have been analysed. It is therefore not possible to provide a timetable for the Review Note approval at this time however, once...
Answered 9 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordRAF Fairford: Air DisplaysMinistry of DefenceTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 70335More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what reason the Royal Air Force’s E-7 Wedgetail airborne early warning aircraft flypast at the Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford in July 2025 was cancelled.
Answer: The Royal Air Force's E-7 Wedgetail successfully conducted a flypast at the Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford on Saturday 19 July 2025.
Answered 3 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordAir Force: Boeing E-7Ministry of DefenceTabled 29 Aug 2025AnsweredUIN 70334More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 22 July 2025 to Question 68356 on Air Force: Boeing E-7, whether any component of the UK E-7 Wedgetail sustainment contract will involve (a) logistical, (b) maintenance and (c) technical
Answer: The UK E-7 Wedgetail fleet will be supported and maintained within the United Kingdom. However, Boeing, as the aircraft's Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), and Northrop Grumman, the OEM for the MESA radar, will provide technical data support from the...
Answered 8 Sept 2025
Original Parliament record
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